Jax returned to the booth with the Vixens as if nothing had happened.
The Neon Moon buzzed around them—laughter spilling across tables, mugs clinking, the air thick with spice and smoke and music that felt too good for a town most maps barely bothered to name. Every seat was filled. Every face wore some version of joy.
He should have felt it.
Instead, irritation coiled quietly beneath his ribs.
Nyxian noticed first. She always did. Her eyes tracked him as he slid into the booth, shoulders squared, expression neutral—but his jaw set just a touch too tight.
"Well?" she asked lightly, lifting her cup. "Did you save the world again?"
Jax huffed a breath. "Hardly."
Bunny leaned closer, ears twitching. "You smell annoyed."
"That's… unsettlingly accurate," he muttered.
Zee tilted her head, studying him with gentle focus. Her glow was faint tonight, softened by exhaustion, but her presence was grounding. "Something happen?"
Jax hesitated, then nodded. "Five soldiers. Off duty. Human. Thought the line didn't apply to them."
Llandra's fingers paused mid-reach for her drink. "And?"
"And they used the word beastlover like it was supposed to mean something."
The table went quiet.
Nyxian blinked once. Then smiled, slow and sharp. "That's adorable. They noticed."
Bunny frowned. "They meant it as an insult."
"I know," Jax said. He leaned back, exhaling. "I just… I hate that mindset. I hated it back home. People finding excuses to put themselves above others."
His eyes flicked to the three women with him—an elf, a succubus, a bunny girl—each so different, each indispensable.
"I can't imagine this world without you," he added quietly. "They don't even know what they're missing."
Zee reached out, resting her hand over his. "Then keep showing them," she said. "That's who you are."
Before he could respond, Stevano appeared beside the booth, unable to fully hide his grin.
"Sir," the young demonkin said, voice low with excitement. "We've broken every profit record we've ever had. By a lot."
Jax blinked. Then smiled—genuinely this time. "Good work," he said. "Tell the kitchen they're killing it."
"I already did," Stevano replied proudly.
The tension eased. Plates were cleared. Laughter returned. And when they finally rose to leave, the festival lights had grown brighter, the streets louder.
The night belonged to Solmere.
—
The following morning, Jax didn't slow down.
Festival days were business days.
Zee had recovered enough to join them, and the Vixens accompanied Jax as he made his rounds—checking stalls, greeting vendors, listening more than he spoke.
Their first stop of note was Brannic and Merriweather's forge.
The sound of hammer on metal rang through the space as they entered. Brannic stood with arms crossed while Merriweather adjusted the enchantments on a blade laid out on velvet.
An adventuring party hovered nearby, clearly interested—and clearly balking at the price.
"It's just a knife," one of them protested. "Why does it cost this much?"
Jax stepped forward, eyes flicking to the blade as his Thief's appraisal slid into place.
+10% Strength
+10% Speed
Applies Heat Exhaustion (-5% Endurance per strike)
Heat Resistance
Double damage to cold-based foes
He whistled softly.
"Do you have a thief among you?" Jax asked, not accusatory—just curious.
A wolfkin in dark wraps stepped forward. "I do."
"Can you see what I'm seeing?" Jax asked.
The wolfkin's eyes narrowed as he focused. Then widened. "Yeah," he said slowly. "That blade's ridiculous."
"I've been telling them that," Brannic grunted.
Jax nodded. "So you're asking why it costs so much," he said calmly, "but you're not asking why it's worth so much."
The adventurers exchanged glances.
Moments later, coin changed hands—not just for the blade, but for additional weapons and enchanted items Merriweather had crafted before her partnership with Jax.
Brannic watched it happen, stunned.
A single transaction had earned them more gold than the entire previous year.
As they left, Jax made it a point to stop at every stall.
"Karthic—how's your daughter recovering?""Susaana, that dress looks wonderful. How's your hip today?"
The Vixens watched in quiet amazement.
He remembered everyone.
By midday, whispers followed them.
"Is Jax here?"
"The Vixens are with him—he must be close."
And yet, for all the attention, Jax remained unchanged.
Grounded.
Intentional.
As the sun dipped lower, he led them toward the outskirts of town.
"What do you think of this land?" he asked casually.
Nyxian squinted. "Buggy."
Bunny wrinkled her nose. "Needs work."
Llandra studied him instead. "What do you see, Jax?"
He didn't answer immediately.
He led them past dying trees and uneven ground to the cliff's edge.
The view stole the air from their lungs.
The lake shimmered below, reflecting the sunset's fire. The forest stretched endlessly, alive with possibility.
Jax stood beside them, voice quiet but certain.
"I bought this land," he said. "This is where I plan to build our future."
They didn't hesitate.
Hands found his. Arms wrapped around him.
They didn't see what was.
They saw what could be.
And for the first time, they truly saw the world the way Jax always had.